2026, you’ve been a colossal prick. Dolly Parton, Tim Curry, Catherine O’Hara, Walter Koenig, Sass Jordan, Gloria Steinem, Peter Cullen, Sam Neill, Chuck Norris, Robert Duvall. And you still won’t take the Dayglo Douchebag. But you had to go take another of the greats.
This afternoon, the world learned of the death of British actor and Hollywood star, Sir Patrick Stewart.
It feels weird to open this like a journalism piece, as few in my generation (at least from North America, and a considerable number world-wide) will readily forget Mr. Stewart. He was, to us, Captain Jean-Luc Picard of the USS Enterprise on Star Trek: The Next Generation, and then a perfect casting for Professor X in 20th Century Fox’s X-Men franchise.
And the voice of the Poo Emoji.
We all know the story of the Shakespearean actor hired to lead a mostly unknown cast on the “sequel” to 1960’s Star Trek (later appended with The Original Series by the fandom, to avoid confusion). He was commanding not only in role, but in presence. In the years after the show (and its successive movies), Stewart was remembered for several episodes, scenes, and even specific lines, as he carried an immense gravitas. “There are four lights” has very specific meaning to the fans.
Then he showed up on Saturday Night Live, hosting with music guest SALT! AND! PEPPAH! (which will forever live in my mind), captained the Love Boat, stood with his “son” in All Things Scottish, and sold sexy cakes, all with an ear-to-ear grin at the sheer absurdity that a balding 40s British actor was a North American mainstay.
His portray did more for people of my era than we could have understood. He was a true role model: stand up for what you believe, draw the line (and no farther), be kind and caring, always remain curious, be forceful without having to fight, and never drink your Earl Grey cold. In life beyond the show, Stewart was outspoken on women’s rights, a dear friend of Ian McKellen and supporter of LGBTQ rights, and numerous other charities and organizations.
Like so many other actors, Stewart could have just lived his life in ignorant bliss. He chose to lend his voice, however it might benefit others.
He was on my “If you could meet anyone, who would it be?” list. David Bowie was there, too. A decade apart, both of them sting, taken too soon.
The closest I ever came to meeting Patrick Stewart – and to be clear, I didn’t – was the reunion of the Star Trek: The Next Generation cast at Calgary Expo in 2012. (I did get to meet Garrett Wang from Voyager, though.) I was with a few thousand of my fellow fans, but at least I could say I was in the same room, able to see him with my own eyes.
It’s only in hindsight I can really understand his impact. Perhaps not so much on my life – I am not a starship captain, after all – but I did carry through a love of The Next Generation enough that I was dubbed “Q” during frosh week, not long after gaining “Son of Worf” from my fellow floormates (longer story, there; trust me, it makes sense … ish).
He left us a tremendous body of work. And while we will likely remember him more for his contributions to science fiction, we will nonetheless remember him.
Picard at Tenagra. His eyes closed.